Escape door lock



July 3, 1956 A. ABl-:LsoN ET`AL 2,752,773 ESCAPE OOOR LOCK I Filed sept. 28, 1954 2 sheets-sheet 1l ,Mam/w 8% g, a

ATTORNEYS July 3, 1956 A. ABl-:LSON ET AL ESCAPE DOOR LOCK 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2

Filed sept. 2e, 1954 S S @MM m @M .6, Z? AJM rares nscnrr. noon Locri Application September 28, 1954, Serial No. 458,362

The present invention relates in general to door locks, and more particularly to door locks of the class known in the trade as panic locks designed primarily for application to fire or emergency doors to enable them to be quickly opened for purposes of escape.

Fire or emergency doors designed to be readily opened from the inside are frequently employed in factories, schools, theatres and other buildings normally housing a large number of persons where a quick emergency exit is necessary or advisable. Conventionaliy, such doors are designed only to be opened from the inside, no provision whatsoever being made to permit the door to be either unlocked or opened from the outside of the building. The locks for such doors are normally continuously biased to locked condition wherein a bolt or bolts provided on the door are seated in suitable keepers on the door jamb, the lock being usually applied to the inner side of the door and having a bar extending transversely substantially the width of the door or a large pedal by which retraction of the lock bolt is effected when the bar or pedal is actuated, enabling the door to be pushed wide open. When the door is again closed, the bolt being of the latch type, automatically snaps into locked position.

lt has been the intention that a door of the above type should be used for escape purposes only, and not for entrance purposes. However, it has been found that it would be desirable in many instances to permit limited access to such escape doors from the outside of the building so that the same might be used by a restricted group of employee or management personnel.

An object of the present invention, therefore, is the provision of a novel lock for escape doors and the like of means whereby a restricted group of personnel having lock keys may operate the panic lock from the security side of the door.

Another object of the present invention is the provision in locks for escape doors of the type which are extremely rugged in construction to insure efficient operation of the same over very long periods of time of externally accessible locking facilities and escape lock operating means for permitting restricted groups of personnel to operate the escape lock from the outside of the door.

Another object of the present invention is the provision in a panic lock for escape doors and the like of handle and panic lock actuating means disposed on the outside of the door and externally accessible lock means selectively restraining operation of the externally accessible panic lock operating means only for affording limited external operation of the panic lock.

Other objects, advantages, and capabilities of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure l is an elevation of an escape door with a lock mechanism assembled thereon embodying the present invention, viewed from the inside of the building.

2,752,773 iaterrted .luly 3, 1956 Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section view of the escape lock control housing and exterior handle components, taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal section view taken through one of the latch bolt and housing assemblies along the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a vertical section view taken along the line 4 4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a horizontal transverse section View taken along the line 5-5 of Figure l; and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary elevation View of the outside of the door showing the exterior handle and latch mechanisrn.

Referring to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures, the escape or panic lock mechanism of the present invention, generally indicated by the reference character 10, is adapted to be disposed on the inner surface of an escape door 11, such as is conventionally found in schools, factories, theatres and the like, where a readily available exit permitting emergency release of large numbers of people from the building is required. In the preferred embodiment herein described, the escape door 11 is in the form of a fire door having lire resistant metallic inner and outer panels 12 and 13, respectively. As illustrated in Figure 1, the door 11 is pivotally supported in a door jamb on hinges 14. Substantially mid-way of the height of the door, an interior panic lock actuating mechanism 15 is provided having an elongated transverse actuating bar 16 extending substantially the width of the door 11. The bar 16 is supported at its ends by integral arms 17 pivoted on pins 18 fixed in actuating bar supporting housings 19 and Ztl disposed adjacent the free and hinged lateral edges of the door, respectively. With this arrangement, it will be seen that the transverse actuating bar 16 is exposed in a projected position relative to the door 11 to be incidentally engaged and shifted toward the door 11 as a body moves or is forced toward the door 11 from the interior of the building, thereby affording readily accessible means for insuring release of the panic lock whenever emergency eXit is desired.

Disposed in vertical alignment with the outer housing 19 and adjacent the upper and lower edges of the door 11, are a pair of identical latch bolt housings 21 having openings 22 therein opening toward conventional keepers 23 fixedly supported on the overhead stile of the door and in the floor or door riser. The latch bolt housing mechanisms at the upper and lower edges of the door `are identical, and a detailed description of one will suffice for a clear understanding of the invention. A latch bolt 24 having an arcuate outer face 2d is pivoted within the housing 21 on a pivot pin 2S for movement through the opening 22 into a complementary recess within the adjacent keeper 23. A plunger 26 is pivotally connected at 27 to the latch bolt and is guidingly supported in a bifurcated partition 28 provided Within the housing 21, a collar 29 limiting the outward movement of the plunger 26. The inner end of the plunger is provided with a head 30, and an apertured flange 31 on an elongated latch bolt control link 32 is fixed onto the shank portion of the plunger 26. The latch bolt 2d connected to the plunger 26 is moved inwardly or outwardly of the housing upon rectilinear axial movement of the control link 32 inward or away from the medial region of the door 11.

The actuating bar housing 19 is adapted to be anchored securely to the door 11 with its inner face in intimate contact With the inner metallic panel 12 by means of bolts or the like projecting through the door, and is provided with vertically aligned guide recesses 33 through which the inner ends of the control links 32 extending from both latch bolt housings 21 project into the housing 19. Slide plates 34 and 35 are supported in coplanar relation within guide grooves formed within the housing 19 for sliding movement toward and away from each other and are provided with projecting studs 36 fitted into complementary sockets in the adjacent ends of the control links 32 extending from the two latch bolts. A toggle disk 37 is rotatably journalled on a lined arbor 38 within the housing 19 for interconnecting the two slide plates 34 and 35 for relatively opposite movement, the toggle disk 37 having diametrically opposed outwardly opening peripheral recesses 39 and ill into which are titled projechng studs il and 42, respectively, on the plates 34 and 35. The toggle disk 3'7 is biased in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 4, by means of a helical torsion spring 43, having one end anchored in the toggle disk 37 and the other end anchored in the housing i9. The torsion spring 43, therefore biases the toggle disk 37 to dispose the side plates 34 and 35 farthest away from each other, thereby urging the control links 32 and the latch bolts 24 away from the central actuating mechanism housing 19 to resiliently maintain the latch bolts in locking position projecting from their respective housings.

As will be seen from an inspection of Figure 4, the slide plates 34 and 35 are each provided with slots d4 through which screws l5 are projected into appropriate threaded apertures in the body of the housing 19 to retain the plates seated in their respective guide grooves in the housing. The lowermost guide plate 35 is further provided with a central rectangular slot 46 adapted to receive the end of an integra. finger 037 projecting from the pivoted latch actuating bar arm i7 disposed adjacent the free edge of the door, and the uppermost bounding edge of the slot 46 is provided with an outwardly bent shoulder portion i8 providing a bearing shoulder to be engaged by the end of the nger Zi7. Vertically aligned studs i9 and Si) are provided on the finger 47 and the partition 5l formed in the housing 19 at the upper end of the chamber accommodating the linger i7 within the housing l?, on which are fitted the opposite ends of a coil spring 52 to continuously resiliently bias the actuating bar 1d to its outermost position illustrated in Figure 2.

It will be apparent that upon movement of the actuating bar i6 and its associated arms l? in a clockwise direction downwardly from the position illustrated in Figure 2, the linger -t7 integral therewith and located internally of the actuating bar housing i9 will be shifted upwardly against the resilient bias el the spring SZ to engage the shoulder 4S of the lowerrnost slide plate 35, forcing the lowermost slide plate upwardly from its position illustrated in Figure 4. Such movement of the lowermost slide plate 3S shifts the lower latch bolt control link 32 upwardly, which motion of the lower link 32 through the liange 3l on the end thereof and the plunger head 3 draws the plunger 26 in the direction of movement of the lower control link 32 to pivot the latch bolt 2d to a position within the lower latch bolt housing 2l, thereby ,withdrawing the latch bolt from its associated keeper 23. Also, the upward movement of the lowermost slide plate 35 through its stud 42 projecting into the peripheral recess 49 of the toggle disk 3'7 shifts the toggle disk 37 in a clockwise direction. This clockwise rotation of the toggle disk 37 through the interconnection of the other peripheral recess 39 and the stud 41 on the upper slide plate 34 shifts the slide plate 34 in a direction opposite to the movement of the lower slide plate 35 and in an amount equal to the movement thereof, imparting an equal and opposite movement to the upper control link 32. This movement of the control link 32 in like manner retracts the upper latch bolt '24 from its associated keeper 23, thereby effecting unlatching of the escape door il.

As it is desirable in any instances in connection with such escape doors to permit limited operation of the door from the exterior of the building by a restricted group of personnel, there is associated with the panic lock mech- 4 anism an exterior operating mechanism comprising a vertically disposed elongated mounting plate 53 which is rigidly fixed to the door l against the outer metal panel i3 thereof by means of screws, bolts or the like, the plate 53 being provided with threaded sockets in the preferred embodiment herein illustrated to receive the threaded ends of bolts projected through the entire thickness of the door. Supported on this mounting plate 53 is a substantially U-shaped handle 54 arranged in a vertical plane and comprising a vertically extending arm 55 and upper and lower supporting legs 56 and 57, respectively, integral with the vertical arm 5S and iixed to the supporting plate 53. To eilect actuation of the panic lock actuating mechanism l5 from the exterior of the door ll, the handle Sti is provided with a push button 58 which is slidably supported for axial movement in alignment with the axis ot the upper supporting leg 56, the push button being recessed within a bore S9 provided in the uppermost supporting leg 56. Extending toward the door `from the push button S8 is a cylindrical projection 6l) of smaller diameter than the outermost portion of the push button 5S, which is seated for sliding movement within a constricted portion of the bore 59 which is complementary to the cylindrical projection 63. To the end of this cylindrical projection 6@ is pivotally fixed a link 6i, the other end of which projects through an aperture extending through a boss formation 62 on the mounting plate S3 and is coupled to a bell crank latch lever 63 by pivotal connection with the arm 64 thereof. The bell crank 63 is provided with au inclined arm 65 extending at an acute angle to the arm 64 and is pivoted as indicated at 66 to bifurcated ears integral with and projecting from the boss 62. Within the constricted portion of the bore 59 is provided a coil spring 67 for continuously resiliently urging the push button 5S outwardly of the handle 54.

Disposed in a position to be actuated by the inclined arm 65 of the bell crank lever 63 is a push plate 68, which is slidably mounted on the lowermost slide plate 35 by means of the screw 69 seated in the slot 68 of the plate 63. The push plate is provided with a right angle flange 7@ projecting therefrom in .alignment with and in an opposite direction to the shoulder itl so as to dispose the flange 70 to be engaged by the inclined arm 65 of the bell crank lever 63 upon elevation of the same by depression of the push button :"t. The opposite end of the push plate 65 is provided with a short flange 7]. projecting in a direction opposite to the flange 7) through an elongated slot 72 in the plate 35 of a length equal to that of the slot 68.

A conventional cylinder lock 73, the tumbler housing portion of which is indicated at 74, is mounted in the supporting plate 53 with the keyhole and front end of the tumbler housing 74 exposed through the plate 53. Projecting from the tumbler housing '74 is an arbor 7S which is rotated in correspondence with a key inserted in the keyway of the tumbler housing 74 which aligns the tumblers so as to permit rotation of the conventional inner cylinder within the cylinder lock. To the end of the arbor 75, remote from the tumbler housing 74, is .tixed a boss 76 of enlarged diameter, which is journalled in a complementary socket within the casing 19 and rotary driving pin 77 which is disposed to engage a driven pin 7S on an idler bolt 79, which is freely journalled for rotation about the enlarged diameter boss portion 76. Projecting downwardly in angular relation to the driven pin 78 from the hub of the idler bolt 79 and offset from the plane of the driven pin is a locking projection 80 disposed, when the cylinder lock 73 is in locked condition, immediately above the short flange 7l on the push plate 68 so as to bar upward movement of the push plateA 68. The driven pin 78 is provided with perpendicularly related stop shoulders cooperating with stop members 81 and 82 formed on the housing 19 to limit movement of the idler bolt.

ln the operation of the panic lock mechanism from the exterior of the door, an appropriate key for the cylinder lock 73 is inserted in the keyway, the key in accordance with conventional practice having an irregular edge on the blade thereof which is brought into contact with the tumblers of the cylinder lock to align interruptions or ends of all of the tumblers with the periphery of the inner cylinder within the tumbler housing to free the inner cylinder for rotation with the key. This rotation of the inner cylinder of the cylinder lock 73 is transmitted to the idler bolt 79 through the arbor 75 and rotary driving pin 77. The rotation of the driving pin 77 through approximately 270 degrees in a counterclockwise direction from the position illustrated in Figure 4, brings the driving pin 77 into contact with the driven pin 78, and the idler bolt 79 is rotated through approximately 90 degrees upon a corresponding further rotation of the driving pin 77. It will be noted that the locking projection 80 on the idler bolt 79 is oifset from the plane of the driving pin 77 so as to avoid interengagement of these elements. The locking projection Si) is therefore shifted out of vertical alignment with the upper ange 71 of the push plate 68, freeing the push plate for vertical movement within the housing 19.

Then, upon depression of the push button 58, the bell crank lever 63 is rotated upwardly about its pivot 66 so that the inclined arrn 65' thereof strikes the lower flange 70 of the push plate 68 to shift the push plate 68 upwardly upon further pivoting of the bell crank lever 63 until the push button 58 is in fully compressed condition. As is illustrated in Figure 4, the push plate 68 is normally disposed in a position relative to the lower slide plate 35 so that the screw 69 is seated in the lowermost portion of the slot 68 of the push plate 68. The push plate assumes this position by virtue of the short upper tlange 7l striking the intermediate partition 51 of the casing 19 when the push plate 68 moves downwardly under the inliuence of gravity following elevation thereof and retraction of the bell crank lever 63 to its normal position.

When the push plate 68 is shifted upwardly under the lifting action of the bell crank lever 63, the lower bounding wall or" the slot 68 bearing against the screw 69 projecting from the lower slide plate 3S shifts the slide plate 35 upwardly in correspondence with movement of the push plate 68, thereby axially moving the lower control link 32 upwardly to retract the lower latch bolt 24 from its associated keeper. Simultaneously therewith, the upper slide plate 34 is shifted downwardly to an equal extent by the toggle connection between the upper and lower slide plates 34 and 35, formed by the toggle disk 37 and pins 4l, 42 seated in the peripheral recesses thereof. Such movement of the slide plate 34 shifts the upper control link 32 downwardly in the manner previously described to retract the upper latch bolt 24 from its associated keeper simultaneously with retraction of the lower latch bolt. Upon release of the manual pressure on the push button 5S, the spring 67 urges the push button to its projected position, returning the bell crank lever 35 to the position illustrated in Figure 2. The slide plates 34 and 35 are returned to their normal position as illustrated in Figure 4 by the torsion spring 43 on the toggle disk 37. Such movement of the slide plates, through the control links 32, projects the latch bolts 24 again into their associated keepers 23. The push plate 68 returns to the position illustrated in Figure 2 under the inilu'ence of gravity. Supplemental springs may be provided in the latch bolt housings 21 to assist in the return of thelatch bolts 24 to projected position.

Upon rotation of the cylinder lock key in a direction to rotate the driving pin 77 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 4, the driven pin 78 and idler bolt 79 are returned to the position illustrated in Figure 4, disposing the locking projection 80 in a downwardly projecting position in vertical alignment with the short upper ange 71 of the push plate 68 so as to bar elevation of the push plate 68 from its rest position.

It will be observed that because of the sliding connection between the push plate 68 and lower slide plate 35 formed by the screw 69 and slot 68', the slide plates 34 and 35 and the latch components controlled thereby are free to be moved under control of the interior actuating bar i6, notwithstanding the locked condition of the cylinder lock 73 and the idler bolt 79, as the push plate 68 is free to remain in its rest position as illustrated in Figure 2 during movement of the slide plate 35 under control of the actuating bar 16.

While only one particular embodiment of the invention has been particularly shown and described, it is apparent that various modifications may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and it is desired, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereon as are set forth in the appended claims.

We claim:

l. A latch mechanism for emergency doors and the like comprising a latch bolt retractable from a lixed keeper to permit the door to be opened outwardly, bolt-actuating means associated with one side of said door for retracting said latch bolt for locking engagement with said keeper and including an actuating plate interconnected with said latch bolt for reciprocation in synchronism with said latch bolt, a latch-operating lever projecting from said one side of said door to a spaced position exposing the same to be contacted and deflected toward said door by bodies approaching said door, means intercoupling said actuating plate with said latch-operating lever to impart latch bolt-retracting movement to said plate upon deflection of said latch-operating lever toward said door, means continuously urging said latch bolt to a projected position interlocked with said keeper when said latch-operating lever is free of deecting pressure thereon, a stationary handle fixed on the other side of said door, a push button mounted in said handle for rectilinear movement toward and away from said door, a reciprocable arm under the control of said push button projecting to a position adjacent said actuating plate, a shoulder member supported on said plate and disposed to be engaged by said reciprocable arm upon movement thereof for imparting bolt-retracting movement to said actuating plate upon depression of said push button, lock means exposed on the side of said door carrying said stationary handle having an intercept member disposed to bar movement of said shoulder member when said lock is in locked condition, and means forming a unidirectional sliding connection between said plate and said shoulder member for freeing said actuating plate to undergo latch bolt-retracting movement under the influence of said bolt-operating lever when said shoulder member is held against movement by said lock intercept member.

2. A latch mechanism for emergency exit doors and the like comprising a latch bolt retractable from a fixed keeper to permit the door to be opened outwardly, a latch-operating lever projecting from the inner side of said door to a spaced position exposing the same to be contacted and deflected toward said door by bodies approaching said door, a casing on said door, an actuating plate slidably'rnounted for reciprocal rectilinear movement within said casing interconnected with said latch bolt to coordinate movement of said plate and latch bolt, means on said lever imparting bolt-retracting movement to said plate upon deflection of said latch-operating lever toward said door, means continuously urging said latch bolt to a projected position interlocked with said keeper when said latch-operating lever is free of detlecting pressure thereon, a stationary handle fixed on the outer side of said door, a push button mounted in said handle for rectilinear movement toward and away from said door, a reciprocable arm under the control of said push button projecting to a position adjacent said actuating plate,

a shoulder member to be shifted by said arm upon reciprocation thereof and having a sliding connection with said plate, means normally disposing said shoulder member to move said plate in correspondence with movement of said shoulder member for imparting bolt-retracting movement to said actuating plate upon depression of said push button, lock means exposed on the side of said door carrying said stationary handle having an intercept member disposed to bar movement of said shoulder member when said lock is in locked condition, and said sliding connection between said plate and said shoulder member freeing said actuating plate to undergo latch bolt-retracting movement under the inuence of said bolt-operating lever when said shoulder member is'held against movement by said lock intercept member.

3. A latch mechanism for emergency exit doors and the like comprising a pair of latch bolts disposed adjacent opposite edges of the door and retractable from xed keepers positioned to receive the latch bolts, a casing supported on the inner side of said door, a bolt-actuating mechanism for controlling both of said latch bolts disposed within said casing, said actuating mechanism including a pair of plates supported for rectilinear sliding movement within said casing, means interconnecting said plates individually with said latch bolts for retracting said latch bolts upon movement of said plates toward each other, a latch-operating lever projecting from said casing to a position spaced from said door exposing a transverse bar on the end thereof extending substantially the width of said door to be contacted and deiiected toward said door by bodies approaching the same, means interconnecting said latch-operating lever with one of said actuating plates for imparting latch bolt-retracting movement to said plate upon deflection of said latch-operating lever bar toward said door, toggle means pivoted in said casing and pivoted at diametrically opposite points to said pair of plates for transmitting equal and opposite sliding movement from one plate to the other, means resiliently applying torsional force to said toggle means to continuously urge said plates away from each other to latch bolt-projecting position, a stationary handle fixed on the outer side of said door, a push button mounted for rectilinear reciprocal movement within said handle, a reciprocable arm movable in accordance with movement of said push button, and a coupling member having a sliding connection with one of said plates and a projection extending into the path of said reciprocable arm to be engaged and shifted thereby upon depression of said push button and impart latch bolt-retractng movement to its associated plate, said sliding connection rendering said plates movable independently of said reciprocable arm upon deflection of said latch-operating lever bar toward said door.

4. A latch mechanism for emergency exit doors and the like comprising a pair of latch bolts disposed adjacent opposite edges of the door and retractible from xed keepers positioned to receive the latch bolts, a casing supported on the inner side of said door, a bolt-actuating mechanism for controlling both of said latch bolts disposed within said casing, said actuating mechanism including a pair of plates supported for rectilinear sliding movement within said casing, means interconnecting said plates individually with said latch bolts for retracting said latch bolts upon movement of said plates toward each other, a latch-operating lever projecting from said casing to a position spaced from said door exposing a transverse bar on the end thereof extending substantially the width of said door to be contacted and deflected toward said door by bodies approaching the same, means interconnecting said latch-operating lever with one of said actuating plates for imparting latch bolt-retracting movement to said plate upon deection of said latch-operating lever bar toward said door, toggle means pivoted in said casing and pivoted at diametrically opposite points to said pair of plates for transmitting equal and opposite sliding movement from one plate to the other, means resiliently applying torsional force to said toggle means to continuously urge said plates away from each other to latch bolt-projecting position, va stationary handle fixed on the outer side of said door, a push button mounted for rectilinear reciprocal movement within said handle, a reciprocable arm movable in accordance with movement of said push button, a shoulder member carried on one of said plates and projecting into the path of movement of said reciprocable arm to be shifted thereby upon depression of said push button, means forming a sliding connection between said shoulder member and the plate carrying the same for transmitting corresponding movement to said plate upon movement of said shoulder member and for permitting said plate to be shifted independently of said shoulder member upon deflection of said latch-operating lever bai toward said door.

5. A latch mechanism for emergency exit doors and the like comprising a pair of latch bolts disposed adjacent opposite edges of the door and retractible from xed keepers positioned to receive the latch bolts, a casing supported on the inner side of said door, a bolt-actuating mechanism for controlling both of said latch bolts disposed within said casing, said actuating mechanism including a pair of plates supported for rectilinear sliding movement within said casing, means interconnecting said plates individually with said latch bolts for retracting said latch bolts upon movement of said plates toward each other, a latch-operating lever projecting from said casing to a position spaced from said door exposing a transverse bar on the end thereof extending substantially the width of said door to be contacted and deiiected toward said door by bodies approaching the same, means interconnecting said latch-operating lever with one of said actuating plates for imparting latch bolt-retracting movement to said plate upon deflection of said latchoperating lever bar toward said door, toggle means pivoted in said casing and pivoted at diametrically opposite points to said pair of plates for transmitting equal and opposite sliding movement from one plate to the other, means resiliently applying torsional force to said toggle means to continuously urge said plates away from each other to latch bolt-projecting position, a stationary handle fixed on the outer side of said door, a push button mounted for rectilinear reciprocal movement within said handle, a reciprocable arm movable in accordance with movement of said push button, a shoulder member carried on one of said plates and projecting into the path of movement of said reciprocable arm to be shifted thereby upon depression of said push button, means forming asliding connection between said shoulder member and the plate carrying the same for transmitting corresponding movement to said plate upon movement of said shoulder member and for permitting said plate to be shifted independently of said shoulder member upon deection of said latch-operating lever bar toward said door, cylinder lock means mounted in said door and disposed toward the outer side thereof, said cylinder lock means having a rotatable idler bolt normally positioned with a projection thereondisposed adjacent said shoulder member to bar movement thereof in response to actuation of said push button, and means on said cylinder lock for shifting said idler bolt projection out of intercepting relation with said shoulder member upon unlocking of said lock.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

